Regulations by country
Australia
In Australia, schools recommend the use of mobile phones only in cases of calls to parents or guardians only if it allows it to be used during school and extracurricular activities.
If phones have cameras, they are restricted in school facilities, being completely prohibited in some sections such as locker rooms, bathrooms, gyms and swimming pools. Use of the camera is permitted only if you have signed permission from the person being photographed or filmed or, if the person is under eighteen years of age, you would need signed permission from the minor's parent or guardian indicating that these actions are permitted.[21] Mobile phones may be confiscated if a student is found in any of these sections and consequences may even be imposed if the situation requires it.
The use of the mobile phone to send harassing or threatening messages is not permitted. If a student were to do so, the authorities, including the police, will get involved as this is a violation of privacy and a case of harassment. Because issues related to bullying, privacy and harassment are very important in Australia, if a person breaks this law it can leave them with a criminal record, which if a student does so will give them a disadvantage in the future.
Unless they can be properly incorporated into the learning environment, the use of mobile phones is discouraged. Gladys Berejiklian"), the former Premier of New South Wales, stated in an ABC News&action=edit&redlink=1 article "ABC News (Australia) (not yet written)") that the goal was to "ensure that mobile phones and other smart devices complement student learning."[22].
Australian high schools are divided over whether or not mobile phones should be banned in classrooms or allowed at specific times during school hours. In 2019 the New South Wales government completely banned the use of mobile phones in primary schools. Berejiklian stated, in a public statement justifying the policy, that the ban would encourage children to avoid using technology that could "annoy or make them feel uncomfortable". Since 2020, the Victorian Department of Education&action=edit&redlink=1 "Department of Education (Victoria) (not yet drafted)") use of telephones in all public schools, both primary and secondary.[23].
The reasons for banning cell phones is to stop bullying (physical and online) and eliminate distractions from the classroom. "Unfortunately, phones are not only distracting but also cause stress for young children, and we cannot allow that to continue," New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian told Seven's Sunrise.[24] In order to implement this, students will be removed from accessing phones during the day unless their parent or guardian requests they need to use it. The teacher will always have the phone somewhere the student can access before and after school.
Although phones are banned in primary school classrooms in Australia, without permission from teachers, the ban in secondary schools during lunch, recess and free time is a controversial issue and the laws that regulate it depend on the state and territory, as well as the school itself. Proponents of restrictions and bans argue that they can decrease distractions and cyberbullying, while increasing students' academic and social abilities. However, there is no evidence that these bans decrease cyberbullying or increase listening in class.[25] [26] [27] [28] Telephone bans are supported by centre-left Labor Party governments, while the centre-right Liberal/National "Coalition (Australia)") Coalition typically opposes them, being strongly opposed in New South Wales.
China
In all primary and secondary schools in the Chinese province of Shandong, the use of mobile phones in classrooms has been prohibited since November 2018.[29] China announced, in February 2021, that it would prohibit children from using mobile phones in schools without written consent from their parents.[30].
France
Since the 2018 school year, the use by students of cell phones and any electronic communication device (tablets or watches with telephone connection, for example) has been prohibited by law, Law No. 698 of 20184, not only in the classroom, but also in any activity that takes place inside or outside the school establishment (recesses, sports activities, excursions and school trips, to give some examples).[31].
Greece
By law, students are allowed to use their mobile phones as long as they do their work first. This includes calling, texting, or any type of camera use. Until they have finished their work, students should put their phone in their backpack, leaving the phones on silent or turned off. Once the work is finished they can use it whenever they want.[32] [33] [34].
Malaysia
For the Malaysian Ministry of Education&action=edit&redlink=1 "Ministry of Education (Malaysia) (not yet drafted)"), it is a disciplinary offense both for students to bring their phones to school as well as to use them in boarding school dormitories. In any case of emergency, students are expected to borrow a teacher's phone, or use the school's public phones. If students bring phones to school, they will be confiscated and parents will be notified of such an event so that they can retrieve them. The first time a student commits an infraction a warning will be issued. Both the student and his or her parents must sign a letter where the student agrees not to bring the mobile phone to school again. If the student is a repeat offender, the student will be restricted from using school facilities or excluded from school programs and activities.[35].
Turkmenistan
In Turkmenistan, the use of phones in class was banned in 2020 in order to increase productivity in the educational process. This prohibition does not only apply to students, teachers must also comply with it: during classes they must put their phones on silent. However, students can only use the phone outside of school.[36].
United Kingdom
Schools in the United Kingdom went from not having mobile phone bans in 2001 to 50% of them in 2007 beginning to have them during the school day. In 2012 this figure reached 98%. Students were forced not to carry their phones to school or to hand them in at the beginning of the day.[37] The London School of Economics published a study indicating that students' academic performance improved when bans on phone use were implemented. These bans helped students achieve higher scores on "Exam (Student Assessment)" exams and also reduced students' temptation to use mobile phones for non-academic purposes.[38].
Strict new laws on phone use are being introduced in secondary schools. These laws indicate that students under the age of sixteen must put their phones away during the day, since, as science has shown, they become more sociable and active in school without phones.[39] Students' phones are placed in their drawers and they are allowed to pick them up again after classes are over. In this way, schools have found a positive impact: more students are active outdoors and are more involved in clubs and other social events. Nick Gibb") told The Times: "I firmly believe that children should limit their own [phone] use at home. Every hour spent online and on a smartphone is one hour less talking to family, it's one hour less exercising, and it's one hour less sleeping. And, of course, it's lack of sleep that research shows can have a detrimental effect on a child's mental health."[40].
Schools found that these bans had the greatest positive impact on students under 11 years of age. However, these restrictions on older students meant a loss of opportunity to use certain educational platforms.[41].
In the United Kingdom, students who were caught with their phones during school hours received everything from warnings to punishments such as detention or expulsion "Expulsion (academy)"). In this way, children have been taught to limit the time they spend online and focus more on their school and social lives. However, there are contrary statements, such as that of Patsy Kane who says: "There is now a fantastic variety of applications to review and students are really motivated to use them."[42].
USA
In the United States, cell phone jammers were previously used to prevent the use of telephones.[43] These jammers are currently illegal, both in use and for sale, under the Federal Communications Act of 1934"), because they cut off calls to 9-1-1 "911 (telephone)") and can disrupt air navigation if used near airports. The Federal Communications Commission in 2012 took a stricter stance on enforcing the ban on jammers.[44] A high school in Washington state "Washington (state)") installed a jammer to prevent students from making calls or sending text messages, however they ended up removing it because it was "probably not legal" under federal law.[45] A science teacher in Florida received a suspension in 2015 for installing a jammer in his classes.[46].
In 2005, the New York City Department of Education banned the use of cell phones in public schools citywide. However, this prohibition was not regulated, as there were schools that allowed students to carry their phones as long as they were not seen with them, and other schools, in order to strictly comply with the prohibition, placed metal detectors at the doors. This ban was also unpopular with parents, who argued that it impeded communication with their children.[47] The ban was finally lifted in March 2015. Under the new policy, principals are the ones who establish, in consensus with teachers and parents, the rules for using mobile phones during classes and breaks.[48] Even so, the default rule is that phones must remain hidden. The lifting of this ban allowed parents, especially in case of emergency, to keep in touch with their children.
Students prefer that the rule allows them to carry their mobile phone with them, with the argument that if a problem occurs they can contact their parents. Parents comment on the topic of parent-child communication that there is no replacement for phones, thus making them an essential device. They also believe that giving a child a phone teaches them about responsibility.[49].
Mobile phone theft is another concern in some schools. In Bucks County (Pennsylvania) in 2012 thirteen students were arrested and accused of running a phone ring that resulted in the theft of thousands of dollars in electronic devices.[50].
More and more schools are allowing the use of mobile phones as tools for learning.[51] This, however, poses other technological challenges. By allowing the use of phones in many schools, students' connection slows down the speed of the school's "Bandwidth (Computing)" bandwidth. Consequently, some schools have blocked access to their Wi-Fi by phones.[52].